Geranium plant named ‘Fiwopi’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Zonal  Geranium  plant named ‘Fiwopi’, characterized by its upright and rounded plant habit; freely branching habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; maple leaf-shaped dark green-colored leaves with a zonation pattern; freely flowering habit; star-shaped bright pink-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium×hortorum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘FIWOPI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of ZonalGeranium, botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum, and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Fiwopi’.

The new Zonal Geranium is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Dresden, Germany. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new Zonal Geranium cultivars withstar-shaped flowers and attractive foliage and flower coloration.

The new Zonal Geranium originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in Dresden, Germany during the summer of 2001 of two unnamedproprietary selections of Pelargonium×hortorum, not patented. Thecultivar Fiwopi was discovered and selected by the Inventor as aflowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollinationin a controlled environment in Dresden, Germany in June, 2002.

Asexual reproduction of the new Zonal Geranium by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled environment in Dresden, Germany since December,2002, has shown that the unique features of this new Zonal Geranium arestable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Fiwopi has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Fiwopi’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Fiwopi’ as a new and distinct cultivar of ZonalGeranium:

-   -   1. Upright and rounded plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   4. Maple leaf-shaped dark green-colored leaves with a zonation        pattern.    -   5. Freely flowering habit.    -   6. Star-shaped bright pink-colored flowers.    -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of theparent selections in plant vigor and flower color.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium can be compared to plants of thePelargonium×hortorum cultivar Fiwosal, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.13,162. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Dresden, Germany,plants of the new Zonal Geranium differed from plants of the cultivarFiwosal in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium were broader than plants of        the cultivar Fiwosal.    -   2. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium were more freely branching        than plants of the cultivar Fiwosal.    -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Zonal Geranium had a less        distinct zonation pattern than leaves of plants of the cultivar        Fiwosal.    -   4. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium had more and larger flower        umbels than plants of the cultivar Fiowsal.    -   5. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium had larger flowers than        plants of the cultivar Fiwosal.    -   6. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium and the cultivar Fiwosal        differed in flower color.    -   7. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium had longer sepals than        plants of the cultivar Fiwosal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Zonal Geranium, showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Zonal Geranium. The photograph comprises a sideperspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Fiwopi’ grown in acontainer.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in Dresden, Germany in a glass-coveredgreenhouse during the autumn and winter and under conditions whichclosely approximate commercial Geranium production. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures averaged 18° C. nighttemperatures averaged 16° C. and light levels ranged from 15 kilolux to100 kilolux. Plants were about four months old when the photograph wastaken, and plants were about six months old when the description wastaken. In the detailed description, color references are made to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum cultivar Fiwopi.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of            Pelargonium×hortorum, not patented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of            Pelargonium×hortorum, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 18 days at            temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 22 days at            temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 25 days            at temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 30 days            at temperatures of 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant/growth habit.—Upright to rounded plant habit; densely            foliated. Moderately vigorous growth habit. Freely basal            branching habit with about seven lateral branches developing            per plant.        -   Plant height, to top of umbels.—About 40 cm.        -   Plant height, to top of leaves.—About 35 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 35 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 10 cm to 30 cm. Diameter:            About 7 mm. Internode length: About 1.5 cm. Texture:            Slightly pubescent. Color: 146C.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.        -   Length.—About 5.5 cm.        -   Width.—About 9 cm.        -   Shape.—Maple leaf-shaped, also referred to as            “stellar-type”.        -   Apex.—Pointed.        -   Base.—Cordate to hastate.        -   Margin.—Lobed.        -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Slightly pubescent.        -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded foliage, upper surface:            147A; venation, 146C. Developing and fully expanded foliage,            lower surface: 147A; venation, 146D. Zonation pattern:            Location of zone: Towards margin. Width: About 3 cm. Color:            Slightly darker than 147A. Petiole: Length: About 8 cm.            Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Slightly rough. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 144A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement.—Single star-shaped flowers arranged in            rounded hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils.            Umbels displayed above the foliage on strong peduncles.            Flowers face upright to outward. Flowers not persistent.            Flowers not fragrant.        -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about ten            umbels per plant each with about 20 flower buds and open            flowers per umbel.        -   Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions. In            the garden in Dresden, Germany, flowering is continuous from            April until frost in the autumn.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about six to ten            days on the plant; umbels last about three to four weeks on            the plant.        -   Umbel height.—About 5 cm.        -   Umbel diameter.—About 9 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 5.5 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 1 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Shape: Roughly elliptic. Color: 144A.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Five; non-imbricate. Length:            About 2.5 cm. Width: About 7 mm to 10 mm. Shape: Roughly            oblong. Apex: Pointed or emarginate. Base: Attenuate.            Margin: Serrated. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper            surface: 73A; towards the base, close to 155D; venation,            73A. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: 73B;            towards the base, close to 155D; venation, 73B.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five, arranged in a single            whorl. Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape:            Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces:            146A.        -   Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 15 cm. Diameter: About            3 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: Mostly erect or outwardly            slanted. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 146B.        -   Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 2.5 cm.            Diameter: About 3 mm. Strength: Strong; flexible. Texture:            Pubescent. Color: 174A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:            About five. Anther length: About 3 mm. Anther shape:            Tubular. Anther color: 171A. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen            color: 171A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity per flower: One.            Pistil length: About 8 mm. Stigma shape: Five-parted. Stigma            color: 63A. Style length: About 3 mm. Style color: 63A.            Ovary color: 138C.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Zonal    Geraniums.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have been    observed to tolerate rain, wind and temperatures ranging from about    1° C. to about 35° C. and have demonstrated good garden performance.

1. A new and distinct Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Fiwopi’ as illustratedand described.